The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged sexual abuse of minor girls by prominent granite industrialist ‘Gem’ Veeramani has arrested his company manager, Sakthivel, police in Chennai said on Sunday, in what was described as a breakthrough in the ongoing case. Investigators have also registered a fresh case against Veeramani — the seventh so far — based on the statement of another minor.
According to officials, the incident alleged in the newly filed case also took place at the residence of Shanthi, a woman associate of Veeramani. With the latest complaint, cases linked to 11 minor girls have now come under the police probe against the businessman.
The matter first came to light when the Anti-Vice Squad of the Greater Chennai Police received video evidence on a pen drive. Acting on the material, police arrested Veeramani and his alleged accomplices, Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan, on August 29.
The net has widened steadily since then. Ganesan, accused of withholding another video related to the offences without informing the police, was arrested on September 22 and lodged in the Central Prison at Puzhal in Chennai. Further investigation led to the arrest of three drivers — Lazar, Parthiban and Babu — on October 5. They allegedly facilitated the crimes by bringing the minor girls to the locations involved.
Police said Veeramani had earlier been taken into two days of police custody at Puzhal prison for interrogation in connection with the second case registered against him.
As part of the expanding probe, teams carried out extensive searches at Veeramani’s residence on Lloyds Road, his farmhouse in Kanathur and the office premises of Chamundeeswari Natural Stone, seizing key evidence connected to the cases.
On Sunday, investigators arrested Sakthivel, the manager of Gem Granites, for allegedly aiding Veeramani. Police added that an investigation is underway to scrutinise financial transactions allegedly executed through Sakthivel to help Veeramani evade legal action.
Original Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/gem-granites-manager-arrested-7th-child-sexual-abuse-case-filed-against-r-veeramani-12203931#publisher=newsstand
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Publish Date: 2026-10-18 23:59:00
